write_inode_now(9)

💾 write_inode_now — the Kernel API Manual, bestie edition 💾

okay so you found the write_inode_now(9) page in the Kernel API Manual, and honestly? it's a little baddie with one job. let's get into it 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

write_inode_now — write an inode to disk. that's it. that's the whole glow-up. 💅

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

int write_inode_now (struct inode *inode , int sync );

look at her. two params, no drama. 😌

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🌸 ARGUMENTS 🌸

• inode — the inode we're writing to disk. the main character of this whole operation, no cap. 👑
• sync — a lil flag telling us whether the write should be synchronous or not. lowkey the vibe check for how patient we're being. ⏳

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💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

so here's the tea: this function commits an inode to disk immediately if it is dirty. like, not "whenever the kernel gets around to it" — right now. it's giving "we are not waiting." 🔥

who's this for? primarily it's needed by knfsd. that's the whole reason she exists, fr fr. 🧚

⚠️ important caveat, bestie, do not skip this one: the caller must either have a ref on the inode or must have set I_WILL_FREE. that's not optional, that's the rule. 🙈

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

the whole friend group, gathered here in Kernel file ./fs/fs-writeback.c:

• inode_io_list_move_locked(9)
• wb_wait_for_completion(9)
• inode_cgwb_move_to_attached(9)
• locked_inode_to_wb_and_lock_list(9)
• inode_to_wb_and_lock_list(9)
• inode_switch_wbs(9)
• cleanup_offline_cgwb(9)
• wbc_attach_and_unlock_inode(9)
• wbc_attach_fdatawrite_inode(9)
• wbc_detach_inode(9)
• wbc_account_cgroup_owner(9)
• wb_split_bdi_pages(9)
• bdi_split_work_to_wbs(9)
• cgroup_writeback_by_id(9)
• cgroup_writeback_umount(9)
• wb_start_background_writeback(9)
• filemap_dontcache_kick_writeback(9)
• __mark_inode_dirty(9)
• writeback_inodes_sb_nr(9)
• writeback_inodes_sb(9)
• try_to_writeback_inodes_sb(9)
• sync_inodes_sb(9)
• sync_inode_metadata(9)

like, the entire writeback friend group showed up to the group chat. iconic behavior honestly. 🫶

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and that's the page!! this lil drop came out of ./fs in October 2026 — so when you cite her, you know exactly where she lives and when she was posted. stay hydrated, keep your inodes clean, and don't forget your ref or your I_WILL_FREE. mwah 💋⭐💜